Smoker{40 s pipe

ABSTRACT

A smoker&#39;&#39;s pipe having an axial cylindrical bore within the pipe shank portion wherein a plurality of filter elements are removably disposed for filtering, cooling and absorbing moisture. The filter elements are of cylindrical shape and supported in spaced relation along and within the pipe shank by means of a helical compression spring having stretched-out portions providing spaced gaps within which the filter elements are removably constrained. A wire loop handle at the outer end of the spring facilitates manual insertion. A removable friction-fit bit at the outer end of the pipe shank abuttingly constrains the spring-filter assembly in place.

United States Patent Blanco 51 3,662,764 May 16,1972

1 SMOKER'S PIPE [72] Inventor: Francisco Blanco, 501 NE. 69th Street,

Miami, Fla. 33138 [22] Filed: Oct. 23, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 83,527

3,097,655 7/1963 Oden l3l/207 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 198,218 5/1923 Great Britain ..13 1/203 1,290,954 12/ l 962 France 1 31/207 80,440 7/1919 Switzerland l3 l/207 Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich Attorney-Emest H. Schmidt [5 7] ABSTRACT A smokers pipe having an axial cylindrical bore within the pipe shank portion wherein a plurality of filter elements are removably disposed for filtering, cooling and absorbing moisture. The filter elements are of cylindrical shape and supported in spaced relation along and within the pipe shank by means of a helical compression spring having stretched-out portions providing spaced gaps within which the filter elements are removably constrained. A wire loop handle at the outer end of the spring facilitates manual insertion. A removable friction-fit bit at the outer end of the pipe shank abuttingly constrains the spring-filter assembly in place.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SMOKERS PIPE This invention relates to smokers pipes and is directed particularly to improvements inrsuch pipes directed to producing a cool, dry smoke which, at the same time, is reduced in harmful products of combustion such as tars, resins and'nicotine.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a smokers pipe of the above nature including means for inserting replaceable smoke filter elements within a comparatively large-diameter axial bore in the shank of the pipe and along and through which the smoke is drawn during smoking, thereby to achieve a high rate of heat dissipation along the length of the pipe shank for cooling the smoke.

Another object of the invention is to provide a smokers pipe of the character described wherein the filter elements are hygroscopic in nature, and preferably of a fibrous material operative to expand upon the absorbtion of moisture and other products of combustion, thereby, in eventually effecting a greater resistance to the drawing of smoke through the pipe, giving an indication to the smoker that the filter elements are spent and in need of replacement.

A more particular object of the invention is to providea smokers pipe wherein the filter element retaining means is formed of a helical compression spring stretched out in discrete zonesalong its length to provide gaps within which cylindrical filter elements are removably received.

Still another object is to provide a smokers pipe of the character described which will be simple in construction, economical in cost, attractive in appearance, easy to operate, and long wearing and effective in use.

Other objects, features and advantagesof the invention will be apparent from the following description when readwith reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 illustrates, in side elevation and partly in vertical section, a preferred form of a smokers pipe embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, but showing the pipe partly disassembled by withdrawal of the bit; and

F IG. 3 is a side elevational view of the replaceable filter elements and their formed-wire retainer spring used for removably supporting the filter elements within the pipe shank.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, reference numeral designates, generally, a preferred form of smokers pipe embodying the invention, the same being comprised of the usual tobacco bowl ll integrally formed at its lower end with an outwardly-extending cylindrical shank portion 12 having a removable bit 13. A small-diameter bore 14 communicating with the interior of the pipe bowl 11 near the lower end thereof extends axially into the shank portion 12 to communicate with an increased-diameter cylindricallbore 15 extending the full length of said shank portion. The bit 13, which is preferably made of a strong synthetic plastic material, is integrally formed with a substantially fiat or oval mouth portion 16 at its outer end, and a reduced-diameter plug portion 17 at its inner end of such size as to be received and frictionally retained within the shank bore 15 to maintain the pipe in assembled relation. The bit 13 is formed with the usual smalldiameter axial bore (not illustrated) for passage of the tobacco smoke when smoking.

Means is provided to filter, cool, and absorb moisture from the tobacco smoke as it is drawn through the pipe shank portion 15 when smoking. To this end, as illustrated in FIG. 3, a metal filter retainer member 18 is provided, preferably fabricated by expanding a helical compression spring at two substantially equi-distantly spaced positions to provide spring portions 19, and 21. Spring portions 19 and 20 define a gap connected by stretched-out wire spring portion near the inner end; and spring portions 20 and 21 define a gap conspring wire portion 26 is adapted to receive an identical replaceable cylindrical smoke filter 24.

The filters 23, 24 are preferably of a chemically treated fibrous material effective in absorbing and/or neutralizing injurious tobacco smoke components, such as tars, resins and nicotine, as the smoke is drawn through the pipe. The cellulous nature of the filters has also been found to be hygroscopic, so as to absorb moisture from the tobacco smoke and thereby provide for a more pleasant dry smoke. Since cylindrical filters of this type are well known in filter cigarette construction, they are not further described herein.

The outer end of the spring wire filter retainer member 18 is formed into an outwardly-extending loop, as indicated at 22, by means of which the filter assembly may readily be inserted and removed from the cylindrical bore 15 in the pipe shank 12. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, when the filter assembly is fully seated within the shank bore 15, the loop end 22 projects slightly beyond the outer end of said cylindrical to permit easy grasp thereof upon removal. Upon press-fitting the bit 13 in place, as illustrated inFIG. 1, the inner end of the plug portion 17 is pushed inwardly against the resiliency of the spring portions 19, 20 and 21, compressing them and thereby retaining the smoke filter elements 23, 24 firmly in place, (see FIG. 1). With reference to FIG. 1, it will also be noted that two filter elements 23, 24 are of somewhat lesser outer diameter than the interior diameter of the cylindrical shank bore 15 within which they are axially disposed. As a result, a portion of the smoke drawn through the pipe in use .will pass over the comparatively large area defined by the inner cylindrical wall of the pipe shank to effect a substantial cooling of the smoke by conduction through said shank and radiation from the outer surface thereof in smoking. With this construction, it has been found that even if smoked more or less continuously, the pipe will not become so hot as to be uncomfortable to handle.

As noted above, the filter elements 23, '24, as part of their function, serve to absorb moisture from the tobacco smoke and thereby produce a more pleasant dry, cool smoke for the smoker. As the filter elements continue to absorb moisture, they will eventually expand or swell to more closely fit the shank bore 15 within which they are received. When this happens, the smoker will notice that a substantially greater pull is required in smoking, an indication that the filter elements are expended and need replacement.

An important feature of my improved filter pipe resides in the clean, dry smoke provided in smoking.

Another advantage resides in the cooling of the smoke taking place along the shank portion of the pipe, as described above, enabling continuous use of the pipe without over-heatmg.

While I have illustrated and described herein only one form in which the invention can conveniently be embodied in practice, it is to be understood that this form is presented by way of example only and not in a limiting sense. The invention, in brief, comprises all the embodiments and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a smokers pipe, the combination comprising a generally vertical tobacco bowl portion, a pipe shank portion integrally formed with and extending outwardly of the lower end of saidbowl portion, said shank portion being substantially cylindrical in shape and having an axial bore, a second bore of comparatively small diameter communicating between the bottom interior of said bowl portion and the inner end of said shank bore, a mouthpiece-bit having an inner end nected by stretched-out wire spring portion 26. The spring plug portion removably received and frictionally retained in the outer end of said shank'bore, a plurality of smoke filter elements, and means comprising a compression spring having stretched-out portions intermediate the ends thereof for removably receiving and supporting said filter elements in axially-spaced relation within said shank bore.

2. A smokers pipe as defined in claim 1, wherein said filter elements are two in number.

4. A smoker's pipe as defined in claim 3, wherein said filter elements are cylindrical in shape and hygroscopic in nature.

5. A smokers pipe as defined in claim 4, wherein said filter elements are of slightly lesser diameter than the diameter of the shank bore within which they are axially received to permit expansion upon the absorption of moisture and other products of combustion when smoking of the pipe. 

1. In a smoker''s pipe, the combination comprising a generally vertical tobacco bowl portion, a pipe shank portion integrally formed with and extending outwardly of the lower end of said bowl portion, said shank portion being substantially cylindrical in shape and having an axial bore, a second bore of comparatively small diameter communicating between the bottom interior of said bowl portion and the inner end of said shank bore, a mouthpiecebit having an inner end plug portion removably received and frictionally retained in the outer end of said shank bore, a plurality of smoke filter elements, and means comprising a compression spring having stretched-out portions intermediate the ends thereof for removably receiving and supporting said filter elements in axially-spaced relation within said shank bore.
 2. A smoker''s pipe as defined in claim 1, wherein said filter elements are two in number.
 3. A smoker''s pipe as defined in claim 2, wherein one end of said spring seats against an annular shoulder defined by the transitional zone between said axial shank bore and said second bore, and wherein the outer end of said spring is formed into an outwardly-extending loop which, upon the removal of said mouthpiece-bit, extends partially outwardly of the outer end of said shank bore to facilitate removal and insertion of said spring.
 4. A smoker''s pipe as defined in claim 3, wherein said filter elements are cylindrical in shape and hygroscopic in nature.
 5. A smoker''s pipe as defined in claim 4, wherein said filter elements are of slightly lesser diameter than the diameter of the shank bore within which they are axially received to permit expansion upon the absorption of moisture and other products of combustion when smoking of the pipe. 